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5 Sheets-Sheet 1,

(No Modem G.N.DUTTON. FLUID METER.

, 99 lill/Iliff (No Model.)

0.N.DUTT0N.

FLUID METER.

INVENTOR.

WITNESSES Atty.

we noms Pneus co4, mom-uma., mswmnmu. n. e.

(NoModel.) I 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

o. N.`DUTT0N.

FLUID METER.

110.441,614. Patented-Nov; 25, 1890.

(No Model.) 5 SheetsLSheet 4.

@.NLDUTTON.

- FLUID METER.

No. 441,614. FIGA-L -4 lumi. ,'S, l

. (No Model.) 5 sheets-sheet 5j.

C. N. D'U-TTON. FLUID METER.

.110.- 441,614. Panentemov. 25 1890.

lmmwllmln 1111111114-E- 1 l .|NVENTOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

`OHAUNCEY N. DUTTON, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE FUELGAS AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FLUID-METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 441,614, datedNovember 25, 1890.

Application filed August 19, 1889. Serial N o. 321,262. (No model.)

To all whom it 71mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, CHAUNCEY N. DUTTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and usefulImprovements in Fluid-Meters, of which improvements the following is aspecification.

My present invention relates to improvements upon certain features ofconstruction of the fluid-meter for which Letters Patent of the UnitedStates No. 400,420 were granted and issued to George Vestinghouse, Jr.,and myself under date of March 26, 1889; and its object is to effect astructural simplification and economy in sundry details, as well as toprevent the obstruction of the meter by undue variations of level of thesealing fluid under extreme differences of pressure.

The improvements claimed consist in certain novel devices andcombinations hereinafter set forth, including (a) a measuring'- shell,which is closed centrally at its top; (o) a port-section connected toand moving with the measuring-shell and having a series ofvalvecontrolled ports and passages; (c) a measuring-shell suspended upona universaljoint mechanism, which further acts to prevent rotation ofthe shell, and (d) a threaded bearing engaging a fixed nut for varyingand adjusting the angle of libration of the measuring-shell.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through ameter embodying my invention at the line w w of Figs. 2, 3, and 4; Figs.2 and 3, horizontal sections at the lines and y y, respectively, of Fig.1; Fig. 4, a plan or top view of the valve-seat and valves; Fig. 5, aside View in elevation of the universal-joint mechanism; Fig. 6, ahorizontal section through the same at the line c* c of Figs. 5 and 7;Fig. 7, a vertical section through the same at the line t t of Figs. 5and 6; Fig. 8, a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, through theport-section and cap ot' the meter at the line s s of Figs. 1, 2, 3, and4; Fig. 9, a vertical section through the registercase at the line r rof Fig. 1, and Fig. 10 a detached view in perspective of the dog whichconnects the registering mechanism with the measuring mechanism.

. top by a proper plug.

In the practice of my invention I provide a meter shell or case which issubstantially in the formof a section of la sphere, and is composed of alower section 1 and an upper 55 section 2, which are connected by boltspassing through outwardly-projecting flanges on their meeting edges.

In order to reduce the volume of sealing fluid, I provide, as in PatentNo. 400,420 afore- 6o said, a series of upwardly-projecting displacers4, which in this case are formed integral with and act as parts of thebottoniv plate 3 of the lower section 1 of the meter-case. A supply-pipe48, for the inflow of the fluid to be measured, is connected centrallyto the bottom plate 3 in line with a central tube 5, which is alsoconnected to said plate and projects upwardly therefrom above the levelof the sealing fluid, and a discharge-nozzle 52, for 7c the delivery ofthe measured uid, is connected to a chamber 6, fixed upon the't-op ofthe upper section 2 of the meter-case.

The sheet-metal measuring shell or vessel 38 is, similarly to that ofPatent No. 400,420, 75 substantially in the form of an annular sectionof a sphere divided radially by partitions 39 into a series ofmeasuring-compartments, the lower ends of which are open and immersed ina suitable sealing fluid, each com- 8o partment inclosing one of thedisplacers 4. The compartments are each completely closed at top, exceptin the particular of being provided with a port 62 for the supply anddelivery of fluid to be measured. The sealing fluid is introducedthrough a lateral iillingtube 50, which is cast upon one side of thelower section 1 of the case and is closed at The meter-case of PatentNo. 400,420 was 9c divided by a partition into upper and lowercompartments, and the central portion of the measuring-shell wasentirely open at top, at which it thus communicated with the uppercompartment and with the casing of a central valve,which was incommunication there-v with and controlled the supply and exhaust ofiiuid to and from the measuring-compartments. Under such constructionthe pressure in the central portion of the drum and roo the valve-casingwas lower than that in the measu rin g-compartments, as a result ofwhich in case of extreme differences of pressure the sealing fluidtended to be forced out of the measuring compartments into thevalve-casing, trapping` the valve and obstructing thc meter.

In my present invention the central portion of the measuring-shell isclosed at top by a port-section B, connected thereto, which will bepresently described, and the fluid to 1o be measured is admitted throughthe lower nozzle 48 and tube 5 to the central portion of the shell, inwhich the maximum pressure always obtains, there being a somewhat lowerpressure in the measuring-compartments and t 5 a st-ill lower andminimum pressure in the upper portion of the meter-case above themeasuring-shell and sealin g fluid. The pressure therefore tends toforce the sealing fluid out of the central portion of the shell, causzoing the fluid to stand at its lowest level therein, and tending in aless degree to force it out of the measuring-compartments,in which itwill stand at a higher level, the excess of iiuid being forced into theupper portion of z 5 the casing on the exhaust side of the meter, wherethe fiuid stands at its highest level, and has no tendency to interferewith the normal working of the meter.

The substitution of a portsection attached 3o to and moving with themeasuring-shell and carrying the valve mechanism for the fixedvalve-Casin g of the prior construction further attains the advantagesof (a) simplifying and cheapening the casting which carries the dis- 3 5placers, the tubes or channels therein leading' to the1neasuring-compartments being now dispensed with; (b) providing shorterand straighter channels opening directly into themeasuring-compartments, thereby reducing 4o the friction of the fluid tobe measured and increasing; the capacity of the meter; (c) so loeatingsaid channels that they shall atall times be above the level of thesealing fluid, and therefore not be liable to be obstructed thereby, and(d) effecting the determination and maintenance of the normal andaccurate relation of the members of the measuring mechanism by the formand position of the portsection, which serves as the rigid central sup-5o port on which all the parts of the measuring mechanism are assembled,and by means of which their normal relation and operation are readilydetermined with the accuracy essential to the successful operation ofthe meter.

The measuring-shell is supported and its axis maintained uniformly at afixed angle i with the vertical axis of the meter, so thatits directoscillation shall, as in Patent No. 6o 400,420, be prevented andconverted into a libratory or progressive wave-like movement about itscenter by a universal-joint mechanism C, connected centrally to thelower side of the port-section Band to a fixed 6 5 support, and a shaft23, j ournaled in said section and coupled to a crank-arm 34 ona shaft33, which is journaled in a bearing on the metercase in line axiallytherewith and above the measuring-shell. The universal joint mechanismemployed in. this instance is composed of two blocks or carriers 30,each of whiehis provided with a central-threaded stem 3l and four lugsor bearings 36, projecting from its side opposite that on which the stemis xed. The stem 3l of the lower carrier is secured to a central support7 in the tube 5, and the stem of the upper carrier is fixed centrally inthe bottom of the port-section B, the two carriers being coupled by pins37, which tit freely in their lugs 3G and in bearings 40, which arearranged in the same plane and in pairs at right angles on acoupling-frame 41, interposed between the carriers 30. It will thus beseen that the measuring-shell is supported and adapted to move in eitherdirection about the common axis of either pair of bearings 40 of thecouplingframe, and its axis is maintained at a fixed angle with that ofthe meter, so as to impart to it the desired libratory movement by itsconnection with the shaft 33, as will be explained in connection withthe description of the'valves and their operating members, of which saidshaft forms a part.

The port-section B, which closes the top of the central portion of themeasuring-shell 38, is a light casting having an outer cylidrical shell53 and a central hub or boss 54, connected at top by an integral seriesof transverse valve-'faces 55 and about half-way between the top andbottom of the casting'by a transverse partition 5G. A top wall 57 ofsheet metal is secured to and covers that portion of the upper side ofthe casting not closed by the valve-faces, and a bottom Wall 5S, also ofsheet metal, is secured to and closes its lower side. Concentricshoulders 59 are formed upon the shell 53 adjacent to its top andbottom, to serve for setting the inner and outer walls of themeasuring-shell 38, and a series of vertical ribs 60 is lalso formedupon the periphery of the shell 53, against which the inner ends of theradial partitions 39 of the measuring-shell are set.

The space between the shell 53 and central hub 54 of the port-section isdivided into a series of ports and passages through which the fiuidadmitted through the pipe 48 to the central portion of themeasuring-shell 38 is admitted to the several measuring-compartmentsthereof and exhausted therefrom into the meter-casing above themeasuring-shell for delivery through the nozzle 52, the admission andexhaust of fluid being controlled by a series of reciprocatingslide-valves 11, working over the valve-faces 55, as presently to bedescribed. The valve-faces are disposed equiangularly about the. centralhub 54, and extend radially therefrom to the outer shell 53, three beingprovided in the instance illustrated. A port (il extends from eachvalveface through the port-section to the central portion of themeter-casing or that inclosed by the inner wall of the measuring-shell,ad-

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jacent to which port a port 62 is formed in each valve-face to establishcommunication, when uncovered by the valve, between the adjacent measurin g-compartment and the u pper portion of the meter-casing. On theinner side of each port 61 a port 63 is formed in each valve, whichport, when uncovered by the valve, establishes communication between theport 61 and a passage 64. Each of the passages 64 leads from a port 63to an opposite measuriiig-compartment of' the shell 38, extending firstbetween the top of the valve-section and the partition 56 and thenturning downwardly, the difference of level being indicated by thetinted portions 64 in Figs. 2 and 3, and extending for the remainder ofits length between the partition 56 and the bottom plate 58 to a port oropening 66, leading into the opposite measuring-compartment. Thepassages 64 are'below the partition 56, separated one from another byradial partitions 67, and above the partition 56 they are separatedbypartitions 68, which, to afford all available transverse area in thepassages 64, are made partly radial and partly parallel with the radialcenter lines of the several valve-faces.

Under the above construction it will be seen that eachnneasuring-compartment of the shell 38 is, by proper movements of one ofthe slide-valves 11, adapted to be alternately placed in communicationwith the supply and the exhaust side, respectively, of the portsectionB.

The ports 61, 62, and 63 of each of the valveseats 55 are controlled byaslide-valve 11, fitting truly upon the valve-seat and having a recess orcavity similar to the exhaust-recess of a steam-engine slide-valve. Thevalves 11 are reciprocated by a crank 69 on a drivingshaft 23, the lowerend of which is tubular and is journaled on a cylindrical bearing 70,fixed centrally in the hub 54 of the valve-section B, and the upper endof which is fitted to rotate in a bearing 71, supported by aframe 20,fixed to the cap-plate of the valve-section. The valves are coupled tothe crank-pin 72 by connecting-rods 73, having end eyes fitting on thecrank-pin and on pins 74, fixed on adj ustable blocks 75, which areclamped to guide-rods 76 by set-screws 77. The guiderods 76 slide inguides 78, fixed to the frame 20 and to the outer end of thevalve-faces, and are connected with the valves 1l by pins 7 9, whichengage holes in the valves and effect their reciprocating movement withthe guide-rods, at the same time preventing them from moving laterallyand obviating liability to bending.

In Patent No. 400,420, before referred to, the adjustment for increaseor decrease of the angle of libration of the measuring-shell waseffected by means of a crank-plate connected to the valve-shaft andmoved transversely thereto by a nut. Under my present invention I attainthe same end, with greater simplicity and economy of construction, by

the provision of a slotted arm 80, which is secured upon the upper endof the valve-driving shaft 23, and is coupled bya link 81 with a similararm 34, fixed upon a register-driving shaft 33, which is journaled inline axially with the meter in a tubular bearing 82, having an externalthread, which engages a corresponding internal thread in a support 83,fixed to the cap 6 of the meter-casing. The shaft 33 carries a worin 84,engaging a wormwheel 85, fixed upm a horizontal shaft 86. The pin 88 ofa crank 87, fixed upon the opposite end of the shaft 86, engages a slotina crank 89 on the first-motion sha'ft 90 of a suitable indicating andregistering vmechanism A, which is inclosed in a casing set in themetercap 6, and which, not constituting in and of itself part of mypresent invention, need not be herein described.

` The register casing and mechanism are further set forth in a separateapplication, tiled by me under date of September2, 1889, Serial No.322,754, and are not therefore claimed as of my present invention.

By raising or lowering the threaded bearing 82 in its support 83 theangle of the shaft 23 with the axis of the meter and consequently theangle of libration of the measuring-shell may be decreased or increased,as

required, for varying the capacity of the meter.

The bearing 82 is held in adjusted position by a lock-nut 91 on its top,as well as by a screw 92, engaging a thread in the support 83, andadapted to enter either of a series of holes in a disk 93, fixed uponthe lower end of the bearing 83.

In the operation of the meter the fiuidto be measured enters the casingthrough the pipe 48 and passes through the tube 5 into the central spaceinclosed by the inner Wall of the measuring-shell 38 and theport-section B. From this space it passes through the ports 61 to thevalves 11, and, as the position of the valves may determine, to one oranother of ,IOS

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the measuring-compartments of the shell 38.

If the position of the valves is suchas to place one or more of theports 61 in communication with one or more of the ports 62, the fluidpasses from the ports 61, through the recesses of the valves and theports 62, into the compartments, Whose ports 62 are opened, chargingsaid compartments. At the same time the opposite compartments are, byreason of the position of the valves, being discharged. When the valveshave changed their position, so as to open the port or ports 62 to theupper portion of the case andthe communication between said port orports and a port or ports 61, the fluid is exhausted from saidcompartments into the upper portionof the meter-casingand is thencedelivered through the nozzle 52. If the position of the valves is suchas to place one or more of the ports 6l in communication with one ormore of the ports 63, the fluid passes from the ports 61, through therecesses of the valves and the ports 63, into the passages 64, passingthrough the same, iirst over and then under the part-i tion 5G, andthrough their ports GGin the shell of the valve-section, into thecompartments communicating with said ports 6G, and charging saidcompartments, the opposite co1npartments being coincidently andsimilarly discharged. XVhen the valves have changed their positions, soas to open the ports (V53, through which the iiuid has previously beencharged, to the upper portion of the metercasing and close communicationbetween the upper portion of the meter-casing and the ports G3, throughwhich the fluid has been previously discharged, the charged compartmentsare discharged, and the discharged compartments are charged in a similarmanner.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In aiiuid-meter, the combination of an inclosing-case provided with inletand outlet pipes, a measuring-shell divided into a series of separatecompartments and adapted to receive a progressive Wave-like movementabout its center, a universal-joint mechanism supporting themeasuringshell, and two shafts coupled one to the other and journaled onthe shell and on the meter-casing, respectively, one of said shaftsbeing mounted in a longitudinally-adj ustable bearing,substantially asset forth.

2. In a fluid-meter, the combination of an inclosing-case provided withinlet and outlet pipes, an annular spherical sector measuring4 shelldivided into a series of separate compartments and adapted to receive aprogressive wave-like movement about its center, a universal-jointmechanism coupled to a fixed bearing and to the measuring-shell, a shaftjournaled in bearings on the measuring-shell in line Wit-l1 theuniversal-joint mechanism, a tubular bearing mounted adj ustably in asupport on the meter, a shaftl journaled in said bearing, and acrank-arm fixed upon said shaft and coupled to a similar arrn on theshaft of the measuring-shell, substantially as set forth.

3. In a fluid-meter, the combination of an inclosing-case provided withinlet and outlet pi pes, an annular spherical sector measuringshelldivided into a series of separate compartments and adapted to receive aprogressive vvave-like movement about its center, a port section fittinginto and closing the central space within the measuring-shell at itstop, said section being peripherally secured to the inner Wall of themeasuring-shell and provided with a series of direct through-ports and aseries of passages leading from ports in the measuring-compartments toports in the upper wall of the port-section, a driving-shaft j ournaledin bearings in the port-section and coupled to an arm upon a shaftmounted in a bearing on the meter-casing, a series of Valve-faces fixedupon the top of the portsec tion and provided with ports communicatingwith the through-ports and the passages of said port-section and withcompartments of the measuringshell, and a series of slidevalves, eachcoupled to a crank on the drivingshaft and controlling the ports ot oneof the valve-faces, substantially as set forth.

4. In a fluid-meter, the combination of an annular spherical sectormeasuring-shell divided by partitions into separate compartments and acylindrical port-section secured to and closing the top of the innerportion oi' the measuring-shell and provided with annular concentriccircumferential shoulders for setting the inner and outer Walls of theshell, substantially as set forth.

5. In a fluid-meter, the combination of an annular spherical sectormeasuring-shell divided by partitions into separate compartments and acylindrical port-section secured to and closing the top of the innerportion of the measuringshell and provided with eircumferential ribs forsetting the partitions of the shell, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GHAUNGEY N. BUTTON.

Witnesses:

W. D. UPTEGRAFF, J. SNOWDEN BELL.

